The Connecticut Supreme Court recently ruled that records of alleged misconduct by teachers at public schools and universities in Connecticut are public records that are subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act.

The case came about by way of a former UConn Health center professor who attempted to bar the release of a report containing allegations that he mistreated staff, on the basis that the documents be deemed evaluations of performance, which are exempt from release.

Taking a narrow view of the performance evaluation exemption, and relying in part on legislative intent of the Freedom of Information Act, the Connecticut Supreme Court disagreed, holding that the Freedom of Information Commission and the lower court were correct in concluding that the exemption applicable to performance evaluations does not apply to records of misconduct.